Yankees claim former 2023 Top 100 prospect, DFA possible rotation option

The harder they come, the harder they fall. And man, does it ever hurt to have to toss our 4,000-word preview on the potential New York Yankees career of Allan Winans directly into the wastebin. But, as they say, them's the breaks, and also, you are an idiot.

The Yankees, seeking a swingman to replace Cody Poteet, brought Winans aboard about two weeks ago, hours before claiming former top prospect Roansy Contreras as well. Winans' MLB tenure has been underwhelming thus far, to say the least (15.26 ERA in two starts in 2024), but he's handled his business at Triple-A, keeping hitters impressively off balance with an underwhelming 90-91 MPH fastball.

Unfortunately, his spot (and Contreras' spot, and any number of other shot-in-the-dark spots) with the Yankees was never secure, and New York pounced at an opportunity to potentially upgrade on Wednesday.

After being placed on waivers by the Cincinnati Reds, the Yankees wound up with right-hander Owen White, formerly a top prospect of the Texas Rangers and the No. 59 prospect in all of baseball prior to the 2023 season, per Baseball America. Winans was the unfortunate casualty of this transaction.

Yankees claim former Top 100 prospect Owen White, DFA ex-Braves hurler Allan Winans

Someone's getting DFA'd for Tim Hill, too, with the 40-man roster now full, after an offseason's worth of maintained wiggle room. More than likely, it'll be either Contreras or White. Cruel business.

White also cracked MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prior to the 2023 season (No. 66), and was a Futures Game participant that summer in Seattle, finishing the year with a 3.51 ERA in 12 starts with Double-A Frisco and an elevated 4.99 mark in 12 starts at Triple-A, unable to adjust to the level or altitude. The Pacific Coast League is uniquely devastating on pitchers, but ... how can we put this ... a 7.39 FIP and 1.61 WHIP is tough to justify in any environment.

White continued to toil in 2024, with a 5.64 ERA at the level and 107 hits allowed in 99 innings. When given a big-league platform, he allowed nine hits and eight earned runs in three innings across three outings. He found himself DFA'd when the Rangers had the opportunity to pluck non-tendered Brewers lefty Hoby Milner off the scrap heap, and was traded to the Reds on Jan. 6, then let loose again on Jan. 29.

Going from top prospect to roster fodder in one year's time is difficult to endure for any pitcher. Unfortunately, it's more than likely his stop in the Bronx will be temporary as well (and likely won't take him past the Florida border).